All Things New….

“Come Reason”
Newsletter of Denise Smith
Volume no. 104-1
January 3, 2004

All Things New… or are they?

Well it’s a New Year now but what’s New? Is is simply a new year because the last digit in the year has changed? Is it a new year because the days on your 2003 calendar ran out and you had to purchase a new one? Is it a new year because the ball has dropped in Times Square and there has been celebrations throughout the world? What makes it a new year? Could it be that the old is gone and it’s a time to embrace the opportunities of something new and different? Could it be that there is a “hope” for something different and exciting to look forward to? But then isn’t that what we are to consider each day for? So what is really new? Have we taken a new look at things and seen all things new? Have we taken a look around and seen all things perfect as God created them, and know that God is in control of all things… or have we carried once again into a New Year all the traditions, teachings, and mindsets of the old?

See that’s why it’s not a New Year! The celebrations have come and gone, and the digit in the year has changed, as well as the calendars have all now been changed, but nothing else has changed! We still look at our brothers and sisters, the very creation of the Almighty God and refuse to see them anew. We still see things as we did last year, and still fight and war over the same old things and yet call it a New Year. We have new laws in place and changes in so many other things, but why not in the mindsets of those that say it’s a New Year, and have celebrated it. So what was celebrated? These questions screamed to be answered… what’s really New?

Could we for just a brief moment, look at all things New! Can we see the face of another human being and see them anew from the way we’ve seen them before? Can we look beyond the color of their skin, their financial status, the clothing they are wearing, or the location where they live and see them anew? Can we see beyond the membership they hold in a denomination of church, or the membership in any group they have associated themselves with and see them anew? Can we see them as the wonderful creation of God that they are? Can we see them “new”? Not new to God, but new in the sight that we use to view them! “New” as in our perspectives and our teachings! We can see the calendar “new” and we can see the year “new” but can we see those that make up the calendar and the year likewise as “new”??

See when the days of 2003 came to an end, likewise the things of 2003 ended. The words that were said then, the actions taken then, and the things done then have ended, they are no longer “present” but “past” and we recognize that in our daily thinking, but limit it to those things such as the calendar and the digit in the year, but shouldn’t we look each day at everything new? Shouldn’t we look everyday with new eyes, new perspective and opportunity to see all things anew? Wasn’t it the Apostle Paul that said that we are transformed by the daily renewing of our minds? Why isn’t it a daily renewal of our minds? How can we renew the calendar hanging on the walls in our homes, or carried on our person, and renew the year we write and record in daily life, but we reject the renewal of other things such as perspectives, traditions, teachings, and creation?

See repeating 2003 is something that we know we’ll never do again… nor should we! 2003 brought some great and wonderful things, as well as some that were not great and wonderful… but we don’t repeat them… we learn from them and move on. In moving on, not repeating the past, we grow and embrace what’s new and ahead. Let’s not forget that in moving between 2003 and 2004, that we must likewise do the same between the first century and times prior and 2004. We can no longer continue to repeat what was done in times past and keep the mindsets and perceptions of times past… following the words of the Almighty God spoke to men and women and the acts of God done in their times. It’s time for us to embrace what the Almighty God is saying today, to the men and women today and live by that… not continue living in the past… those time have ended as 2003 has ended…and it’s time to embrace each day as “new” forgetting what is behind and moving forward into what lies ahead! We can not embrace today, and what lies ahead of us while trying to repeat the past! Let’s hear what God has to say today…. live by what God is saying to each of us and see what is really “NEW”!!

Have a wonderful week, and remember in all things, HEAR HIM!! ASK HIM!! KNOW HIM!!